Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-02-02
HIS SPECIAL GIFT.
An Example Which Teaches a
Grand Lesson to Young People.
youths Companion.1
=, 80, a., 1,1

''IIave you see the freshman!"
''Which!n
''There is bat one you could see''
''Humpty Dumpty. Oh, he pervades the
place. The trees in the campus shrank
into bushes when he came into it,
The students who were going up to
chapel in groups were calling to each
other. joking, as usual. But there was but
one subject to-day for their jokes. ''Have
you seen the Babe!'' tom Thumb"
'Bulgy''-they had dozen nicknames for
this unfortunate freshman, who had ar
rived the previous night, and had been
seen at the hotel by some of them.
He was not a chapel, however, so that
the majority of US were disappointed
l had an errand to Prof. Tyndqlrs room
that morning, and found there a very meek
little woman, who had brought her son up
to college.
She was speaking as l entered.
''Y on understand, professor, he is my only
child l am widow. He is all have"
Il do understand, madam" said the good
old professor, gently, ''and all that can
do 10 make him a useful man shall be
done, rest assured. But in the end, it de-
pends on the lad himself"
"Oh, Tonys willing! He does his best.
But we're very poor. 1t has been hard
work for years to raise to raise the money
for him to come here, and now l want hlm
TO learn every thing right away: Greek
and Latin and mathematics and arithmetic
and history and"
''Is your son good arithmetician7 Or
has he talent for languages, or bellies
LtfyeS, or what has he an inclination for!"
''Oh, nothing at all, sir, unless it is his
meals. He's very fond of dinner, especial
" Hxb % NOT t-r,ia EeDf fo,-
he doesn't banker for any of them. That's
the reason brought him here"
Il should like to sea the boy" said the
worried professor.
Hes just outside. But you'll be gentle
with him!' she said, anxiously, pausing
at the door, the knob in her hand. He's a
mere boy, perfect Child. Come in, Tony,
dear,"
The professor looked away TO hide a
smile as the tiny little woman came up,
leading an immensely overgrown youth as
she would baby
This is Tony, sir. That is his pet name,
but Anthony Briggs Brashier is his full
name"
Take a seat, Mr.. Brashicr,'' said the
professor, placing chair for the lad "a
few questions, perhaps, will give me an
idea of the best course for you to choose.
have you gone in Latiu.'
Tony's red face was perfectly round, and
no older in its lines than that of boy of
six. But there was great anxiety in his
eyes, as he said, in a husky whisper: II
never could get beyond the grammar,
sir.'
''And in Grcek:"
Tony shook his head The examination
on every subject brought the same results.
The professor owned. ''You are fit only
for the preparatory school, 1 fear. AS to
mathematicsl'
Tony's face lightened. 1 don't think 1
am quite such a Ounce in mathematics as
in other things. like the study. have
gone through the geometry and algebra
twice"
"Well, we'll" said the professor, ''we
shall see. You will undergo regular
examination. If you must enter the pre-
raratory school, it will make your course
a year longer"
oh dear, Tony, do try,'' almost soSbed
his mother. ''You know all that depends
on your getting through soon. want him
10 be a ministsr, sir. HIS father was a
minister. He'G earn our living that way
and serve God. too. want him to live for
the glory of God and the good of the
world"
The professor attended her respectfully
as she went out. Tony fingered, catching
sight of me.
Are you one of the students.' he asked
Yes" / had an odd bewilderment as
10 whether it was child or a grave, eager
man who was talking to me.
Il suppose it's pretty hard work herel'
pretty hard, even for bright fellow, ,
replied
''Wen, can't do it. I'm not bright; I'm
q regular Ounce. I've made pp my minC
| to that Except" his queer dark eve:
Frightening, sin one or two little things
! Lut they wouldn't count-hre.'
There was little doubt that Tony's esti
| mate of himself was correct. In spite O
| his knowledge of mathematics, ke was S,
deEc lent in his other studies that he wa.
Put into the preparatory school. with lad
| OF twelve. There he remained fer tw,
| long years.
His mothers resolve that he should be
II mister was inexorab,e. ar it never oc
| cured to the gentle, good-natnred lad I,
oppose il. Fence the energies G
| 10 CTive GrCcz and Latin INTO h
1u.l bran. which utterly refused TO har
! cor hcTn. Es as fond - good 20 ing. o
fishing, jokes iun Of an kn.1s. HIS ur
H.,l. , 1 ody revenied k.s king part
niet4c sPcrts, Lat Ars sTP:,cse wa
! euty Nc sluGc;it. even GL.JAg he =
stheF college IN baseball or cFicKc: uni es.
11ony could 60 to back him. His enthusI
astic shouts and yclls, were contagious.
OF course, he was a butt for the whole
college. He was Babe Infant
| ''Humpty Dumpty'' still. but every man
4 From hn ~ 81
man, liked Tony. Ee was so good
humored, SO sincere, and above all, in sucl
deadly earnest with his work. He begar
with fresh zeal every morning to score ;
fresh failure before night
By cint Of pushing, he was taken init
the freshman class.
II doubt II he ever goes farther,n salt
Prof. TyRdall TO me Il was now a tutor il
the lower sehooll There's not NEAR
or vulgar trait in that great body. Undcl